Phils' trade requires leap of faith

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- You always hope the people running the team for which you root know something you don’t. Thursday the Phillies asked their fans to take a leap of faith with them.

These have been times of wavering faith in Philadelphia. The football coach with more years with the same NFL team than any other and fewer championships than anyone who has at least one has watched his “listen, I’m in charge” grumbles cause the Eagles to collapse upon themselves. The 76ers were able to use the chaff released from the temporary elation over the Andrew Bynum trade to distract from the fact that they used $9.5 million of cap space this season to have Spencer Hawes and Kwame Brown on their roster -- but Bynum’s knees have erased the camouflage. As for the Flyers ... at least a lockout prevents another bad choice in net.

The Phillies have by and large avoided the preemptive groan of doom in recent years. It’s what a World Series victory and aggressively getting pitchers like Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee will do for an organization. However, four seasons have passed since that championship, and this fall there was no postseason baseball whatsoever. And that has the natives restless.

The first significant move of this winter arrived as Ruben Amaro Jr. was flying out of Music City, a trade that sent Vance Worley and erstwhile top pitching prospect Trevor May to Minnesota for a little slap-hitting centerfielder named Ben Revere. Both pitchers’ trade value was down -- Worley because he struggled to pitch through a bone spur he ultimately had removed in September, May because he struggled to control his high-grade fastball and curve.

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That said, dealing a low-salary guy who basically helped everyone forget the monumental disappointment that was Joe Blanton -- who, mind you, got an absolutely ridiculous two-year, $15 million contract from the Angels this week -- and a good Double-A prospect used to get you, say, a home run. Any home run. (Revere has zero big-league homers in more than 1,000 plate appearances.)

If Revere covers enough ground in left-center field to allow Darin Ruf to awkwardly roam there and mash beaucoup home runs for the Phillies, that will be a relief. But when you are down a No. 4 starter, there is a need for something more than that.

Revere did hit .292 last season, despite the fact that opposing defenses could apply the “sink in” policy you once employed against the last pick of the stickball league draft. He doesn’t strike out much, but doesn’t walk a lot either. He stole 40 bases in about three-quarters of a full season. Someday when Jimmy Rollins finally accepts the leadoff spot no longer is his oyster, he will be there.

There’s a chance Revere will develop into another Michael Bourn, who did his best to put a seed of regret in the Brad Lidge trade that sent him to Houston. Bourn is available as a free agent this winter if you have $75 million lying around. So there are upsides to this trade.

Here are the fears: Roy Halladay seemed very mortal last season. If that is a trend, then the Phillies’ starting rotation has come back to earth. Worley would have been a pillow for that fall; without him that job at the moment is on Kyle Kendrick’s right shoulder. Maybe he’s up to it. Anyone want to place a wager on it, though?

Then there’s the domino effect: If the Phillies can parlay the trade and the financial savings Revere affords them into an established run-producing corner outfielder, it makes it worth it. However, that has issues of its own. Are they going to gamble big money on Josh Hamilton? Do Ryan Ludwick, Nick Swisher or Cody Ross provide enough competence?

Revere fills a hole the Phillies absolutely had to fill. The thought of John Mayberry Jr. spending another day in center is spine-chilling. If he is the energy guy he’s hyped to be, then it will be a shot in the arm this aging team needs.

The big fear is that Doc’s arm is shot. And if that’s the case, the loss of Worley could mean a loss in faith that Amaro can return the Phillies to glory.